With the steady growth of the Latino population in Texas — up from 32 percent in 2000 to nearly 38 percent in 2010 — it's no surprise that so many new Texas books explore Latino themes.

Here are some recent releases, worthy of attention, linked by author, topic or press to the Lone Star State. Some are paperbacks published by smaller presses, and many of the books contain Latino characters and themes.

“Body Slammed!” by Ray Villareal. (Piñata Books) A Dallas author's tale of a teenage boy, desperate to appear tough, who meets a wrestler with a fast car and reckless spirit.

“Bold Women in Texas History,” by Don Blevins. (Mountain Press Publishing) Brief profiles of 11 Texas heroines, from Francita Alavez — called the “Angel of Goliad” for saving the lives of Texas prisoners of war in the 1836 Goliad Massacre — to Barbara Jordan, the first African American elected to the Texas Senate after Reconstruction and the first Southern black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. For ages 8-12.

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“The Boy Kings of Texas: A Memoir,” by Domingo Martinez. (Lyons Press) A gritty but glorious look at life in a Texas border town in the 1980s. Growing up in Brownsville, Martinez had a protective older brother, sisters who transformed themselves (for a time) into upper-class white girls, and a host of other family and friends involved in pig butchering, fistfights, witch doctors and more.

“Curandera,” by Carmen Tafolla. (Wings Press) San Antonio press issues the 30th-anniversary edition of the first poetry collection by the city's current poet laureate. Includes historical photographs of the 1970s-80s movimiento writers, plus a new Afterword by the author and a new Foreword by professor Norma E. Cantú. Coming Sept. 1.

“Edge of Dark Water,” by Joe R. Lansdale. (Mulholland Books) When the body of her childhood friend is pulled from the Sabine River, Sue Ellen sets off to solve the crime.

“Escape From Texas: A Novel of Slavery and the Texas War of Independence,” by James W. Russell. (Sloan Publishing) This story of a slave who dreams of freedom in the years leading up to the Texas War of Independence offers a glimpse of multiple cultures.

“Flagrant Conduct: The Story of Lawrence v. Texas,” by Dale Carpenter. (W.W. Norton & Co.) Carpenter argues that the groundbreaking U.S. Supreme Court ruling that emerged from a Houston incident and found anti-sodomy laws unconstitutional was based on events that didn't happen.

“Hide, Horn, Fish, and Fowl: Texas Hunting and Fishing Lore,” ed. Kenneth L. Untiedt. (University of North Texas Press) Published by the Texas Folklore Society, this lively collection of essays is organized into equally lively topics, including unusual prey, the hunting drive and anecdotes about the ones that got away.

“Hispanic Immigrant Literature: El Sueño del Retourno,” by Nicolás Kanellos. (University of Texas Press) Kanellos, the director of Arte Público Press, offers a comprehensive study of Hispanic-immigrant texts written in the United States. His broad thesis claims that these works serve a population united by language rather than national origin and help solidify a national Hispanic identity.

“The Immigrant Advantage: What We Can Learn From Newcomers to America About Health, Happiness and Hope,” by Claudia Kolker. (Free Press) Kolker shows how native customs brought to the United States enrich the lives of all Americans.

“Iranians in Texas: Migration, Politics, and Ethnic Identity,” by Mohsen M. Mobasher. (University of Texas Press) Texas was the fourth-largest U.S. settlement area for Iranians who fled their country during the 1979 revolution that overthrew the Pahlavi dynasty. Mobasher, a Texas scholar born in Iran, traces anti-Muslim sentiment in the country from the Iran hostage crisis (1979-81) to today.

“Straightening the Bell Curve,” by Constance Hilliard. (Potomac Books) The subtitle of this book, written by an associate history professor at the University of North Texas, offers a succinct assessment of its thesis: “How Stereotypes about Black Masculinity Drive Research on Race and Intelligence.”

“Texas High School Football: More than the Game,” by Joe Nick Patoski. (UT Press) A thorough collection of images of the objects surrounding high school football in Texas, including mascots, cheerleading and band uniforms, helmets, pennants and bobbleheads.

“The Wineslinger Chronicles: Texas on the Vine,” by Russell D. Kane. (Texas Tech University Press) Kane takes readers to the Texas wine frontier and tells stories about the key players, from Spanish missionaries to modern-day growers and entrepreneurs.